Coupling



May 1927 w. B. FLAmol-zs '6 COUPLING Filed July 18, 1924 ATTORNEYPatented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STA SYLVANIA.

TES

WARREN "B. FLANDElR-S, OF PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB INGHOUS'EELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION PATENT OFFIOE.

T WEST- Ol PENN- COUPLING.

Application filed July 18, 1924. Serial No. 726,779.

My invention relates to shaft couplings, particularly to shaft couplingsof the flexible type, and ithas for an object to provide apparatus ofthe character designated which shall embody effective means for dampingthe torsional vibrations which are often pres ent in connected shafting.

This and other objects, made apparent throughout the further descriptionof my invention, may be attained by the employment of the apparatushereinafter described and illustrated in theaccoinpanying drawing inwhich Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one form of mycoupling; Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional elevations takenrespectively on the lines HH and III- II of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4; is atransverse sectionalelevation of another embodiment of my invention. I

In certain types of rotating" machinery, such as the geared turbinedrives employed in ship propulsion or the rotary pumping systemsemployed in dredging" operations, the machinery is submitted toexcessive strains because of the torsional vibrations set up in theconnected shafting by sudden changes in load or by other variations inrotational velocity. Continued operation under these conditions mayresult in injuring the apparatusor seriously curtailing its useful life.By my invention, fluid-pressure means are provided within the shaftcouplings for so damping or absorbing any vibrations which may be setupin one shaft section that they are confined or localized in that sectionand are'not transmitted to .lll sections. In this manner, the re They cfthe machinery is considerably improved and its useful life prolonged.

which will he W Refer nzz to the drawing for a more 0- taileddescription of my invention, 1 show a driving: shaft and a driven shaft11 provided "with respective coupling members and Provided in each ofthe coupling members 12 and i8 is a plurality of spring retainer opera16, the

it and 15 respectively which copairs to receive driving springs r being;installed under an initial Secured to the driving; mem- N bolts isacasing it) for requid. it suitable pack g mem- Tured in the driving t11 and casing 19 for prove. it

engages ing. Y Any vs of fluid therefrom. Provided in the casing 19 aretwo radially-disposed damping vanes 22 actuated by the driving shaft 10.Secuied to the driven shaft 11 and the coupling member 13 are two daming vanes 23 which are similar to the drivin damping vanes and arenormally disposed thereto. The driving dan'iping vanes 22 and the driven'damping vanes 23 extend radially inward and outward respectively,'etfecting a very small clearance with the driven shaft 11 and thecasing 19. Two conduits 24 are provide for establishing communicationwith the casing 19 on opposite sides of each of the damping-wines 22. Avalve,25, which is preferably of the orifice or needle type, is providedin each of the 'conduits .Ztfor altering the area of flow.

The operation of the above embodiment of my invention is as follows:.Power is transmitted by the driving shaft 10 through the drivingsprings The constructioh is such that any mis-align= ment which may takeplace between the shafts under ordinary operating conditions is freelypermitted. lhe strength and scale.

of the SPI'lREILS 16 is sufficient for transmitting the d load withoutundue flextion in load will cause a corresponding timing of the springsmd the coupling mei'nbers 12 and 13 consequently rotate relatively toeach other. The relative movement of the driving damping vanes 22 withrespect'to the driven damping vanes 23 results in displacing a quantityof the liquid which is present in two of the segments formed by thedamping vanes and the circular casing 1,9,. T he liquid displaced isconveyed by the conduits 24: into the two remaining segments. llhe rateof displace ment of the liquid is controlled by the setting of thevalves 25, which is generally such that the relative rotationalmovements of the coupling; members 12 and 13 are gradually arrested andthe. vibratory impulses a sorbcd. v

While 1 have described my invention as being; cspec v adapted for use ingeared turbine drives or rotary pumping systems, it is to be understoodthat its use is not conllncd solely thereto, and that it ma beadvantageously v employed gcther any two rotating members. Furtherforconping tosired, be entirely dis-associated from the coupling mechanism.

In Fig. 4, I show another embodiment of my invention in which two reliefvalves 31 are provided in each of the damping vanes n2 for permittingpassage of the liquid. The valves 31 are normally held in a closed tionby suitable springs 32. The springs 32 are so designed that the valvesare allowed to open upon a predetermined increase in liquid pressure aseffected by a relative movement of the damping vanes 22 and 23. The Howof the liquid is restricted and the torsional vibrations are damped,whereupon the driving springs 16 hold the driving and driven members ina relative position corresponding to the average torque.

lVhile I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is other changesand susceptible of various modifications, .Without departing from thespirit thereof, and I desire therefore, that only such limitations shallbe placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as arespecifically set forth in the appended claim.

lVhat I claim is:-

In a coupling, the combination of a driving member, a driven member,resilient power-transmitting means interposed between the driving anddriven members, a casing containing fluid, damping vanes associatedrespectively with the driving and driven n'icmbers and disposed withinthe casing, means communicating with the easing for by-passing fluidaround the damping vanes, and means provided in said communieating meansfor regulating the quantity of flow.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this sixteenthday of July, 1924-.

WARREN B. FLANDERS.

